Who doesn’t want to go to Paris at Christmas time especially when you get a full weekend of sightseeing, Parisian culture and a massive Challenge Cup game against Stade Francais thrown in?
Sportsrooms in partnership with Bristol Bears Rugby Club organised the first fan travel opportunity for Bears loyal supporters over the weekend of 13th-15th December 2019 including flights, transfers, hotel and match tickets and what a weekend it was.
Flying from Bristol airport the fans met their Sportsrooms guides at the Hampton by Hilton Hotel on site where information packs were distributed and introductions were made.
After a short flight to Paris we arrived and swiftly jumped onto the coach which then took us through the shining night time lights of the city to our hotel, the Mercure Paris Boulogne.
The weekend was centred around the rugby match which was being played on Saturday 14th December at 21:00 at the Stade Jean Bouin, just south of central Paris. The Bristol Bears team were already in Paris as they had flown earlier in the day and were finalising their preparations as the fans were free to do with their day as they wished, taking in the famous sights, Christmas markets and ramping up their step counts.
Everyone met back up, in true English Rugby fashion at the pub opposite the stadium before the match started where we were met by fellow Bears supporters, some of whom we hope to see on future Sportsrooms supporters tours.
The stadium was a spectacle, the energy electric with drums being banged, songs being chanted. It was fantastic to see such passion from both the Bears and Stade Francais supporters.
The game was tight and end to end, with Stade Francais all set for the win, when Harry Thacker’s second try in as many games against the Parisians allowed Callum Sheedy to land the winning kick with just two minutes remaining. Bears won 18-16. It was nail biting stuff! A great result for Bears, setting them up for good things to come in the rest of the teams European Challenge Cup campaign.
Flying home on Sunday 15th, it was a great opportunity to reflect on a fantastic weekend, the feedback received, and the smiling faces said it all. Bring on the next Bears European adventure!
For more information and news about future tours please visit www.sportsrooms.com/fan-travel/